Syracuse University
2-8, 0-0
Cornell University
10-4, 0-0
Orange Unstoppable at Home
9/23/2009 9:03:07 PM | Volleyball
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange volleyball team turned in a dominant performance upon its return to Manley Field House on Wednesday night, defeating Cornell, 3-0. Syracuse was unstoppable in all facets of the game, holding a .294-.043 edge in hitting percentage and a 14-2 advantage in blocks. SU improved to 10-4 on the season with the win while Cornell moved to 2-8 overall.
Junior Hayley Todd made a quick transition from middle to outside hitter for the match, leading the team with 10 kills. Sophomore Noemie Lefebvre ranked second with eight kills while middle blocker Sarah Morton added seven. Freshman Samantha Hinz was also an impact player for the Orange, turning in a career-best four kills and a .667 hitting percentage.
Rookie Laura Homann took command of the Syracuse attack for the majority of the game, dishing out a match-high 31 assists while sophomore Hallie Morse added five helpers.
Morton, the national leader in total blocks, lived up to her billing defensively posting 10 total blocks, including eight solo which ties her career high set in the season debut against New Hampshire. Todd added a pair of stops at the net while senior libero Shanetha McLaurin led the back row with a match-best 13 digs.
The first set would prove to be the most tightly contested of the match, with the two teams trading points through the majority of the match. The Orange took a one point lead late in the match, 21-20, before kills by Morton and Lefebvre and a pair of Big Red attack errors put the game away, 25-20.
Syracuse carried its momentum from the first set through the match, jumping out to an early 10-point lead in the second set en route to a 25-15 victory before closing out the sweep with a 25-12 game-three win.
The Orange opens BIG EAST play over the weekend, visiting West Virginia on Saturday, September 26 at 7 p.m., before facing Pittsburgh on Sunday, September 27 at 2 p.m.
